Anwar plays down Cabinet tensions, says ‘no need to rush’ on Loke’s resignation

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 13 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today described the mood at this morning’s Cabinet meeting as “normal”, amid signs of disunity within the government as his Pakatan Harapan coalition goes head-to-head with its unity government ally, Barisan Nasional, in tomorrow’s Melaka state polls.

Anwar played down the tension in the run-up to tomorrow’s vote as part and parcel of an election campaign, and said he anticipates the temperature to cool down again once the election is done.

“When there is an election, the temperature rises briefly. Then it goes back down. But as for the meeting earlier, it was normal. I didn’t notice any issues,” Anwar told reporters after performing Friday prayers at Brickfields here.

Media reports suggested there is growing friction within Anwar’s Cabinet, as the two major governing coalitions traded salvos at the Melaka election campaign trail where incumbent BN had teamed up with rivals Perikatan Nasional to defend the state.

One of Anwar’s staunchest backers, Anthony Loke, has also resigned as transport minister in what is seen as a protest against the conditional royal clemency granted to Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Razak, allowing the former prime minister to serve the remainder of his jail sentence for his SRC International corruption convictions at home.

Anwar said he has yet to decide whether to accept Loke’s resignation and was in no rush to do so.

“I have not accepted the resignation yet. I have received the letter and he said it takes effect (immediately), but I will certainly take some time to review it carefully,” he told reporters.

“There is no need for us to rush.”